President Barack Obama, seen on screen, speaks during the Pre-Grammy Gala. (Photo: AP)
Former US President Barack Obama has said that “shame” and “decorum” once expected from public officials have been lost, after a racist video was shared from the social media account of President Donald Trump.
The video included a clip depicting Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The post, shared on Trump’s Truth Social account, led to criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans. It was later deleted, with the White House saying a staff member had posted it.
The clip appeared at the end of a longer video repeating claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election. It was set to the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight and is said to have come from a post previously shared online by a conservative meme creator.
Trump told reporters he “didn’t see” the part of the video showing the Obamas. When asked if he would apologise, he said: “I didn’t make a mistake.”
Obama addressed the issue during a 47-minute interview with liberal podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen. While he did not mention Trump by name, he spoke about the state of political debate in the US.
Story continues below this ad
“It’s important to recognise that the majority of the American people find this behaviour deeply troubling,” Obama said.
“It is true that it gets attention. It’s true that it’s a distraction.”
He added that public discussion in the US “has devolved to a level of cruelty that we haven’t seen before”.
“There’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television,” he said. “What is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office. That’s been lost.”
Story continues below this ad
The interview also covered immigration protests, electoral boundaries and plans for Obama’s presidential library in Chicago.
The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.
A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.
All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.
Core Team
The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:
Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.
Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.
Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More
Share
President Barack Obama, seen on screen, speaks during the Pre-Grammy Gala. (Photo: AP) 
